Portions of the documents were blacked out, including the name of a witness who told police that Sandy Hook Elementary School was Lanza's "life." Police found a copy of Lanza's report card from Sandy Hook in the house.

The warrants state that investigators found two rifles, a BB gun and a starter pistol in the house, including the .22-caliber rifle that he used to kill his mother, Nancy Lanza, before going on his killing spree. Lanza had taken four additional guns with him to the school.

Police also found thousands of dollars worth of computer equipment and video gaming consoles, and a receipt to a gun range in Weatherford, Okla.

A gun safe, where some weapons were stored, was in Adam Lanza's bedroom, a warrant indicates. The list of more ammunition filled nearly two pages. Investigators found full boxes of shotgun shells with buckshot, hundreds of rounds for the .22-caliber rifle, numerous boxes of ammunition for handguns as well as the instruction manual for the Bushmaster AR-15 used in the shooting.

They found journals that Lanza kept, although the warrants do not provide details of what they said. Investigators confiscated Lanza's video games, unidentified medical records and printed email conversations. They discovered books about living with Asperger syndrome, the condition with which Lanza was diagnosed.

Investigators found a gun safe open and with no indication that it had been broken into. In one warrant, there is also a reference to a gun safe in Lanza's bedroom, along with a smashed computer hard drive and gaming console. An unidentified witness told investigators that Lanza spent most of his time alone, often playing video games such as "Call of Duty," a warrant states.

Police found three photographs of a dead person covered in plastic and blood. The warrants do not indicate whether authorities know the identity of the person.

They also found a bank check to Lanza from his mother for "the purchase of a C183 (firearm)," one of the warrants states. Although investigators identified the "C183" as a firearm, it is unclear if any such weapon with that designation is made. Police confiscated a military-style uniform from Lanza's bedroom, a warrant indicates.

Families of the victims were briefed late Wednesday night about what details were going to be released in the search warrants.

"It was obvious his intention was to do a lot of damage and he was certainly capable of doing that … considering the amount of ammunition he had," said Mark Barden, the father of slain first-grader Daniel Barden.

Of Nancy Lanza, he said, "As a parent, I would think that she probably could have made different choices with how she came to spend her time with her son. Fishing comes to mind."

Barden said that he hoped the release of the warrants would remind the public of the ugly and horrific nature of the tragedy.

"When people forget about it, they do nothing," said Barden. Commenting on the snapshot they've gotten into Lanza's life, Barden remembered his own son's kindness and said that Daniel used to sit with the lonely kids in class.

"I think if there were a Daniel Barden in Adam Lanza's class, this may not have happened," he said.

Nicole Hockley, the mother of slain first-grader Dylan Hockley, was among the family members who were briefed.

"I haven't spent a great deal of time pouring through them," she said. "Everything I learn about the investigation is painful because it reminds me of the pain of that day and that Dylan and the others aren't ever going to come back."

"I'm much more focused on the need for change," said Hockley. "The search warrants contents aren't as important."

Danbury State's Attorney Stephen Sedensky asked Judge John F. Blawie to seal certain information, including the identity of a witness and undisclosed items obtained during the searches, for another 90 days.

Not included in the search warrants released Thursday by Sedensky was material suggesting what the state police or other law enforcement agencies have done to collect information about Lanza's computer use from companies such as those that provided telephone and Internet service to his home.

Information from Internet service providers might prove valuable when the destruction of a computer hard drive makes the retrieval of its data difficult or impossible.